Carolyn Preston wrote:Was he eating watermelon when he was hit by the muse?

Carolyn

Actually It's very possible , most of his pieces are taken from nature or surroundings , He told me in an Email, when he was younger he used to walk past a canal and noticed the hitching posts had grooves worn out on them from the constant use , this inspired some pieces he made , so maybe a melon segment is correct , face on it looks like an egyptian neck thingy ,wajmacallit.

It is a Wallwork tile but why the "Briglin"? They were made by Alan and his assistants first in Greenwich and then down in Marnhull in Dorset into the 1970s.

Being in London, Alan and Eileen/Brigitte at Briglin did sell each others work but that was about the only connection. As an aside, Alan was the proud owner of a Briglin toilet roll holder that was modelled on rather oversized "gentleman's tackle" - sorry but I don't have an image!

_________________Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!

studio-pots

Consultant

Number of posts : 5340Location : South East LondonRegistration date : 2011-02-17

A real Wallwork image - the man working in France in 2006. You will note that he is throwing on the wheel and, despite what the finished pots look like, the vast majority of them start out that way. After throwing they are cut and reassembled and them decorated by scratching, incising and piercing.

studio-pots

Consultant

Number of posts : 5340Location : South East LondonRegistration date : 2011-02-17

The melon forms are slab built. He would take a lump of clay and roll it into a ball then cut in half. Each half would be flattened by hand and then finished in an old fashioned mangle. He would cut the crescent shapes by hand and when semi-hard pierce and otherwise distress.

_________________Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!

studio-pots

Consultant

Number of posts : 5340Location : South East LondonRegistration date : 2011-02-17

The tiles were actual blanks bought from commerical tile producers, such as Pilkington and Johnson. Alan produced the original designs and his team of ladies decorated in a manner similar to icing and decorating a cake.

_________________Now you should know by now that Potty and I need to see your bottom - we're funny that way!

studio-pots

Consultant

Number of posts : 5340Location : South East LondonRegistration date : 2011-02-17